Network does not find printer, unable to connect printer to network

[martyb16]

I recently changed internet service providers and the new network does not find my printer so I cannot connect the printer to the new network. I've exhausted all help and suggestions from the new network and tried every troubleshooting step-by-step for the computer (Dell laptop) and printer that I can find. I still have the old network connection but cannot disconnect until this problem is solved. I am beyond frustrated. Please help.

[Garp_senchau · Accepted solution]

@martyb16,

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're thrilled to have you on board! 

Thanks for posting your query! We're here to help you get back up and running. To better assist you, could you please share your printer's serial number or product number with us via private message? 

Need help finding your product number? No worries! Check out this handy guide: Click here

To access your private messages, simply click the private message icon on the upper right corner of your HP Support Community profile, next to your profile name. 

Meanwhile, try these steps:

1. Ensure Printer is on the Correct Network:

• Turn on the printer and make sure it’s ready to connect to the new Wi-Fi.
• Forget old network: You might still have the old Wi-Fi connection saved on the printer. You want to remove this.
• Connect to new Wi-Fi: Use the printer's settings or menu to connect it to your new Wi-Fi network. Most HP printers have a Wi-Fi setup wizard that helps you do this. Choose your new network and input the password.

2. Check Printer’s Network Settings:

• Print a Network Configuration Page: Most printers can print a report that shows you details about the current network connection. This will help you see if it's still connected to the old network.
• If it’s connected to the wrong one, disconnect it from the old network and retry connecting to the new network.

3. Ensure Your Computer is on the Same Network:

• Make sure your computer is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the printer. Sometimes, it might connect to another device (e.g., a hotspot) and not the network you’re trying to connect the printer to.

4. Restart Devices:

• Restart the printer and the router. This will refresh their settings and give both devices a chance to reconnect cleanly.
• Restart your computer to ensure it’s also recognizing the new network settings.

5. Reinstall Printer on the Computer:

• Open Devices and Printers or Printers & Scanners on your computer.
• Remove the printer from the list of devices.
• Then, go to “Add a Printer,” and see if it detects the printer on the new network. If it doesn’t show up, try using the printer’s IP address to add it manually.

[Garp_senchau]

6. Update or Reinstall Printer Drivers:

• If your printer’s drivers are outdated or there’s a compatibility issue, it can cause connection problems.
• Visit HP’s official support website and enter your printer model to download the latest drivers for your operating system.
• Once downloaded, run the installation and follow the prompts. During the process, it may ask you to select the network or manually enter the printer’s IP address.

7. Use HP Smart App:

• If you have a smartphone or tablet, you can try the HP Smart app to set up the printer.
• Install it from your app store and follow the prompts to connect the printer to your new Wi-Fi network.

8. Printer’s IP Address (if nothing works):

• If you know the IP address of your printer, you can manually add it to your computer:
  1. Go to Devices and Printers.
  2. Click “Add Printer,” then select “The printer I want isn’t listed.”
  3. Choose Add a printer using TCP/IP address.
  4. Enter the printer’s IP address and follow the prompts.

9. Disable Wi-Fi Isolation (on your Router):

• Check if your router has a feature like Wi-Fi Isolation or Client Isolation, which blocks devices from communicating with each other on the same network.
• If this is enabled, disable it in the router settings.

10. Reset Printer’s Network Settings:

• If all else fails, consider resetting the network settings on the printer to factory defaults. This will erase all old network settings and allow you to start fresh.

I hope these steps help resolve the issue

Please feel free to reply here if you have any questions or if you need further clarification on any of the steps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

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Regards,